Enlightenment
A movement that promoted knowledge, reason, and science
Popular sovereignty
People are the source of the government's power
Republicanism (republic)
People elect their representatives (voting rights)
Federalism
A government where the power is split/divided between the national government and state governments
Limited government
the Constitution limits the powers the government powers by listing the powers it does have and doesn't have
Separation of powers
The government is divided into three branches (legislative, executive, judicial) and each has its own responsibilities
Checks and balances
Each branch has some sort of power over the other two
Enumerated powers
Powers that only the national (federal) government hold
Reserved powers
Powers that are set aside only for the states
Concurrent powers
Powers that are shared/held by both the states and national government
Elastic clause
Clause in the Constitution that states that Congress have the ability to do whatever is necessary to execute government
Implied powers
The Elastic clause gives the government implied powers- abilities not physically listed but still existent
Bicameral
Two houses (Senate, House of Reps.) to make laws
Appropriate
To set aside/determine what to do with money
Impeach
To bring raise official charges on an official
Constituents
The people of a state or district represented by a member of Congress
Bill
A proposed law
Veto
What a president does when they don't approve of (sign) a bill
Cabinet
A group of people who help the president make decisions
Judicial review
The Supreme Court's ability to analyze and interpret laws of national, state, and district courts and decide whether they are constitutional or unconstitutional (violate the Constitution)
John Locke
Believes people have the natural rights of life, liberty, and happiness
Montesquieu
Believed in separation of powers and a balanced government
Census
The counting of the country's population every 10 years
Reapportionment
The redistribution of House members each state has after a census (because of fluctuation in states' populations)
Electoral college
The people that cast the official votes for president